Page 27 of Fearless Heart

“Indeed,” Graeme said. “Our plan is sound. I’ll await word from you, James, on the whereabouts of the falsifier. We’ll see he’s apprehended and you can make sure he declares his lies to Robert.”

“I worry for the lass, King Alexander’s daughter. The Comyns won’t care if she’s a gentle maiden. They’ll use her for their purpose and once they have no need of her …” James leaned against his vacated chair. He purposely glanced at each of them. “She needs to be taken to Robert for her own safety at the soonest.”

“We’ll find and protect her until then,” Liam said.

“I’m off to find Valence for he’s harbored the enemy before. If I find the English king’s favored knight, Valence, I’ll find those who mean to usurp the king. I mean to murder that knave for he’s vexed me more than any other. I’m sure he schemes with the coxcomb Comyns for I’ve heard they practically sit at Valence’s feet.” James sneered, bowed his head and thanked the friar before heading out the door.

After he left, Heath and his comrades sat in silence. The only sound in the hall was that of a fly buzzing near the ornate window glass. Each in their own thoughts, none would put voice to the truth of the matter.

Except of course for Heath. “God Almighty, she is the queen’s daughter. I should’ve listened to my gut.”

Friar Hemm excused himself and left them to their discussion.

“What are you going to do about it,” Liam asked.

“I cannot allow Lillia to be taken to Robert, and she damned well won’t end up with the Comyns.” Heath tensed at his words.

“You ken what must be done,” Brodin said and laughed.

Graeme nodded. “Aye, the only way to protect her is to wed her.”

“That’s not necessary,” Liam said. “He can surely protect her without taking her as wife.”

“Is it not necessary?” Graeme said low, “If she’s no longer a Hunter, she’ll be safe enough. The Comyns are searching for Laird Hunter’s daughter now, not Heath Fraser’s wife.”

The grim situation hit him with force and he leaned back in his chair. “I need a drink.”

Brodin poured him a cup of wine. The monk’s stock was much stronger than what was served at the local mead hall. He chugged the wine and used the edge of his tunic to wipe his mouth. And yet the wine did little to ease him.

“I now know why Laird Hunter set a betrothal for Lillia. She told me she was to be betrothed when I saw her at the festival. He was trying to get her to safety.”

“What clan was he settling her with?” Liam asked.

Heath hunched his shoulders. “Lillia didn’t say and I didn’t think to ask. She only said the betrothal was to take place that night, but she abhorred the man and fled. The lass says that’s when she found Gilroy and traveled with him here. What does it matter?”

Graeme interjected, “It matters greatly. What if Hunter sides with the Comyns? Mayhap he intended to give Lillia to them. He’d certainly do whatever it took to keep his clan safe and if they threatened them …”

He shook his head. “Nay, Aylmer Hunter is loyal to the Bruce as is my father. He would never give her to the Comyns no matter what danger his clan faced. Besides, he has too many allies and would be able to squelch any threat from them.”

“You’re blinded by your father and Laird Hunter’s alliance. If the Hunters repealed their support of the Bruce, they wouldn’t make it known,” Brodin said objectively.

“My father would have told me so when I spoke with him at the festival. Although, he mentioned that Laird Hunter hadn’t visited him and he was disturbed. It was unlike Aylmer to avoid my father.”

“Mayhap your father doesn’t ken Hunter’s change of alliance. There is a way to find out whom her betrothed was and if she is indeed who we deem her to be,” Graeme said.

“And what way is that?” Heath couldn’t help asking. He raised his brow, suspecting his comrade was about to suggest something devious.

“Once ye wed the lass, demand answers. She cannot deny you once you’re her husband. A wife must obey her husband in all matters.”

His comrades chortled at that.

Heath scoffed. “I was afraid you were going to say that. Och, I doubt such deviousness would work on her.”

“Why?” Graeme demanded.

“Has it ever worked for you? Or you, Liam?”

They shook their heads.

Graeme laughed. “You make a good point. No matter if you wed her or not, she’ll be safe enough from the Comyns and the king. She cannot leave the caves now. Nay, we shan’t let the lass from our sight. It won’t matter much who her betrothed was.”

“Nay, it shan’t matter one bit.”

Heath walked out of the abbey with his comrades trailing. He wanted to make haste and get back to the caves to make sure Lillia was safe. But more than that, he wanted to ensure she would be his.